Madhya Pradesh drops Rameez Khan from Ranji squad for black buck killing

New Delhi: All-rounder Rameez Khan was dropped from Madhya Pradesh Ranji squad after the cricketer was arrested for allegedly killing a black buck in in January.

The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) took the decision while elected its 16-member squad for Ranji Trophy quarter-final match against Bengal, which is scheduled to be played in Mumbai.

"We have not selected Rameez for the Ranji squad as he is not available because he is jail in connection with the alleged killing of a black buck," MPCA Secretary Milind Kanmadikar told PTI.

On January 10, Rameez along with his father and two other associates were arrested under Wild Life Protection Act in Sagar district for allegedly killing a black buck.

As per the report in PTI, the remains of the animal, a rifle, few live cartridges and a knife were found from their possession.

Incidentally, Rameez's father Mehmood Khan too is a former first class cricketer and is at present also a member of the MPCA's under-23 selection committee.

Rameez, who stepped into first class cricket in 2011, was supposed to be a key player of the MP Ranji Squad.

Thus far, the southpaw has played 26 first-class matches and score 1,169 runs and took eight wickets in his career.

As per the report, all four of them are in jail under judicial custody in the black buck killing case and their bail pleas were rejected by the court.

(With Agency inputs)